What is a key reason for ensuring children engage in physical activity?

Ensuring that children engage in physical activity is essential for their overall development, particularly because it helps develop muscles and coordination. When children participate in various physical activities, they enhance their motor skills, which are crucial during their formative years. These activities contribute to their strength, balance, and agility, all of which play a significant role in their growth.

Developing coordination through physical activity also provides children with the confidence to explore their environment, take risks, and engage in play. This physical engagement lays a foundation for lifelong habits of movement and activity, promoting not only physical health but also positive emotional well-being.

The other options do not support the key role that engaging in physical activity plays in children's physical development. For instance, increasing screen time can hinder physical activity rather than promote it. Literacy is important, but it is not directly linked to the benefits of physical activity. Additionally, preventing socialization contradicts the nature of play, which is often a social activity enhanced by physical engagement.